- Use as little glue as possible. This will help keep the quilled design clean looking and make it less likely to get those glue pieces that stick to the design.
- If when you are rolling a loose roll and when you let it expand the center comes up and dose not lie flat, give the quilling tool a quarter of a turn backwards before removing it.
- Use a quilling designer board to make matched petals for flowers.
- If you are weaving paper quilling strips together and want a solid piece. Put the edges of the strips close together so there is no space in between.
- Use a quilling designing board when you want your quilled pieces to be uniform in size.
- Only use a clear drying tacky glue for best results.
- When making a 3D quilled project to protect it you can spray it with a clear coat of varnish.
- Do not use construction paper in your quilling design either as a background or as the paper strips.
- If the center of your loose roll is too tight you have probably rolled too tightly just re roll another strip with a steady grip but not to tightly.
- Most quilling patterns will give you paper colors to use however if those don't suit you substitute some other color that will suit.
- Once the glue has set for the roll remove it from the quilling designer board so that you can make more rolls.
- If you are making a design with more than one layer, do one layer at a time and after each layer is all glued together then you can assemble the completed project and glue it.
- When framing your quillwork make sure that there is enough room so you do not flatten your design or put it into a shadow box.
- If you are going to mail your quilled card protect your shapes by putting bubble wrap or tissue paper around them.
- Don't hesitate to make your own pattern and design. Experiment with different shapes and different lengths of paper.
- For added protection when mailing your quilled card place the envelope with the card in it in a padded envelope.
- Experiment with the quilling designer board. If you use short strips in it the rolls produced will be very open and airy. If you use long strips in it the rolls will be more dense.
- When you are making symmetrical designs some times you will only be given half of the pattern. If this is the case trace the pattern that you are given then flip it over and trace it again this way you will have a complete pattern to follow.
- To water proof your jewelry before adding any metal place the quilled paper onto a sheet of aluminum foil and spray with clear varnish or use clear nail polish. Put two coats on but let them dry in between each coat.
- When making your own phrases for quilled lettering, make all of the letters you need and then after they are all complete arrange them on your background and make sure they are strait and the spacing is how you want it before gluing them down.
- If you have an uneven tight roll you can fix it by placing it on a table or other flat surface and then pressing down with your fingers to flatten it. Note: you may have to do both sides.
- Always trace or copy your pattern onto another sheet of paper so you will not mess up your original by accident.
- To make different sizes of huskings move the pins closer together or further apart.
- If your quilled shapes stick to the surface of your work space, carefully work your needle tool under it to loosen it.
- Substitute narrow paper if you are going to use the finished design in a scrap book and are worried about how thick the page is.
- When making gift cards you may want to select colors that go with the wrapping paper that you have chosen.
- Make sure that the varnish or sealer that you use to spray your quilling work will not yellow as it ages.
- Keep a damp wash cloth near you to clean any glue off of your fingers and off of your tools.
- Quilling is a learned skill. At times it may take you a couple of tries to get it the way you want. If you are a beginner don't be to hard on yourself it will come and when it dose it will be beautiful.
- Use a combination of similar colors to create a more natural or sophisticated look for example pink and pale pink or ivory and soft ivory.
- Always make sure you read the directions and then follow them. If you do that you will get what you set out to get.
- If you are a beginner use the center of the needle tool to make your rolls because it will be easier to control.
- A fun variation on a normal husking is to use one color for the center and another color to wrap around the out side of the husking.
- When making jewelry if you use narrow paper it will look more delicate.
- When working on a symmetrical design always start at the center and work your way out.
- Store any extra shapes or scraps of left over paper in a box. Then when you have enough combine different colors and shapes to cover a small box or use in other small fun projects that you make up yourself.
- Time saving tip when making your quilled mobile, purchase a wind chime at a discount store and remove the chimes then replace with your quilled object that you want on your mobile.
- When you assemble your project any shape that has glue on the surface of it should be placed so that the glue will not show.
- The tip of your needle tool will leave a smaller hole when working with tight rolls.
- Keep your quilling projects out of direct sun light this will help resist fading.
- The seam of any quilling shape is the point where the paper is glued down. When making shapes such as tear drops pinch the roll at the seam so it will hide the seam. When making 3D quilled objects such as grape rolls put the seam at the back so that it will not show.